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L. L. HEPBURN. Garrmge-Lwadng Implement. NO.|6I,82. PatentedApril6,1875.

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LEWIS Il. HEPBURN, 0F ILION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARTRIDGEeLOADINC-E IMPLEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. h6 L?, dated April 6,1875; application lilcd lIanuary 18, 1875.

ments in Tools for Loading and Recapping Cartridges, of which thefollowing is a specijication:

My invention consists of a tool of peculiar construction for loading,capping, and removing caps or primers from cartridge-shells, ashereinafter more fully described.

Figure lis a side elevation of the tool as used to remove a cap orprimer. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing` it used to cap a shell; andFig. 3, a similar view, showing it used to load a shell.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple, cheap, andefiicient tool that can be used to load a shell, to cap or prime it, andalso to remove the exploded cap or primer therefrom.

To construct this improved tool, I make two metallic arms, A and B, ofthe form shown in the drawings, the two being pivoted together, as shownat n. rlhe arm B is curved at its end where the joint is, so that thejoint, instead of being central between the two arms, is thrown to oneside, or is eccentric to the horizontal plane of the arms, the object ofwhich will be hereinafter described. The arm B has formed in one sidetwo semicircular recesses, D and E, of the proper size to permit acartridge-shell to tit therein, as represented in Figs. l and 2.TherecessE has a narrow groove, e, cut in its rear wall, of such a sizeas to permit the flange of the shell to lit therein, as shown in Fig. l,this recess or groove e extending only a short distance, as shown inFig. 2, there being an inwardly-projecting tlange, Z, on the oppositeside of the recess E, against which the head of the shell F rests wheninserted in the recess E, as represented in Fig. l. The rear wall of therecess E is inclined backward, to permit the shell to be tipped or movedtherein, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The arm B, at the pointwhere the recess D is formed, is inclined on its upper surface, so that,when the shell F is inserted in said recess, its head will stand at aright angle to the plunger or screw o, as represented in Fig. 2. The armA. has its rear end curved slightly, to form a convenient handle, and ithas inserted through a hole in it, over the recess E, a steel-pointedscrew, c, this latter being inclined at an angle of about forty-fivedegrees, and so located that its point will be exactly opposite thecenter of the recess, as shown in the several figures. In like manner ascrew, o, is inserted through the handle A, directly over the center ofthe recess D, as shown in Fig. l. rIhis screw o has its lower end madeslightly concave, and is of a diameter equal to that of the cap orprimer used on the cartridge-shell, its function being to press or forcethe cap or primer into place in the cavity formed for it in the head ofthe shell; The arm B is provided with a round handle, C, the end ofwhich is flat, as shown in the drawings, this handle being made of asize to correspond with the internal diameter of the shell, so that itcan be used as a rammer to force the wads into the shell when loadingthe latter, as represented in Fig. 3. To

.facilitate the use of the tool for this purpose,

a rounded knob, I, is formed on the opposite end of the arm B, as shownin the several iigures, this knob fitting the palm otl the hand for thatpurpose.

It will be observed that the position of Athe pivot or joint u is insuch relation to the point of the screw c that, as the arms are broughttogether, the point c will be thrust forward as well as downward, andthereby will be made to penetrate the cap or primer in an obliquedirection, thus obtaining a firm hold upon it.

The manner of using the tool is as follows: To remove a cap or primer,the shell is inserted in the recess E, with its ange resting in thegroove e on the rear side, with the head or flange pressed firmly upagainst the iiange Z on the opposite side. While held in this position,the two arms are pressed together, thereby forcing the point c into theprimer, which it penetrates in an oblique direction, thus obtaining agood tirm hold of it, when the shell is shoved over to the positionindicated by the dotted lines, thereby prying the primer out'of itscavity. When a primer is to be put on, the shell is placed in the recessD, as shown in Fig. 2, the primer laid on, and the plunger o thenbrought down upon it, thereby forcing it into its place in the head ofthe shell. By means of the screw-thread formed on the parts c and 0 theycan be adjusted to the exact point desired. The manner of using thehandle G as a rammer for loading shells will be readily understood froman inspection of Fig. 3.

While this tool is more especially intended for use with breech-loadingshot-guns, it can also be used for capping and uncappingcartridge-shells used in rifles, and is of especial use when shells areused that are to be reloaded and fired repeatedly. With a slightmodification, the handle G may also be adapted to placing the bullets inthe shells. When made to be used for this purpose the handle G will behollowed out longitudinally from its outer end inward, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2, the inner end of the cavity being made oi'the size and shape corresponding to the bullet to be used, while belowthat it will be made of a size and shape to correspond with the open endot' the shell, so that, as it is shoved down over the shell, it willslide thereon in a straight line, thereby centering the bulletaccurately in the mouth of the shell. When thus used thebullet will befirst entered in the mouth of the shell, and then forced home, byforcing it with the shell into the cavity; or the bullet may iirst beplaced in the cavity, and the shell then forced in. A small hole shouldbe drilled from the apex of the cavity in which the bullet ts outthrough the handle C, as also indicated by dotted lines, to

permit the escape and entrance of the air as the bullet is entered andremovei. When it is designed to use the tool for this purpose, the partC would be made of metal to insure greater accuracy and durability.

The tool thus constructed is exceedingly simple, efficient, and cheap ofconstruction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The implementconsisting of the arm B, having a recess, E, in its side for receivingand holding the shell, in combination with the arm A, provided with thepointed screw c, said arms being pivoted together at their extremity, inthe manner shown, whereby the implement is made to operate substantiallyas described.

2. The arm B, provided with the recess E, having the groove e and langeor lip l', constructed and arranged to operate substantially as shownand described.

3. The arm B, having the recess D in its side, in combination with thepivoted arm A, provided with the adjustable plunger o, all constructedand arranged to operate as set forth.

4. The herein-described implement, having one of its arms provided withthe circular head I and the handle C, whereby it is adapted for use as acartridge-loader, as set forth.

LEWIS L. HEPBURN.

WVitn esses:

WILLIAM JAcKsoN, LoUIs N. WALKER.

